A Nigerian man identified as Kelechi Isaac has accused the Nigerian police operatives in Bayelsa State of extorting N3 million from him at gunpoint.
Isaac made this disclosed on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.
A video clip showing him narrating the incident was also uploaded on Facebook.
Isaac during the press briefing, identified himself as an indigene of Nguru Nworie, a community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. He is, however, resident in Ghana, a West African country.
Narrating the incident, Isaac said he returned to Nigeria to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State when the incident happened.
In the video clip, he told reporters that the incident happened Monday at Odi Axis in Bayelsa State.
He said, “I was driving back from the marriage ceremony with two of my friends when five police operatives flagged down our vehicle.
“The operatives identified themselves as the “IGP’s Special Squad”. And their white pickup truck was not branded.
“The operatives’ uniform did not have name tags,” he said.
“The operatives searched our vehicle and subsequently forced me to unlock my phone.
“On seeing a N10 million bank alert in my phone, they began to beat me. They also threatened to shoot me unless I transferred N6 million to them.
“They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. Before we knew it, they started shooting guns and threatened to kill the three of us. I asked them to take me to a police station, but they refused.
“They said that if I didn’t give them N6 million from the N10 million, they would kill all of us. When the beating became too much, I started negotiating with them. And at the end of the day, I transferred N3 million to them in two bank accounts they provided. They drove with us and stopped us at Ahoada in Rivers State and drove off,” Isaac narrated in the clip.
However, Isaac has raised a cry that he wants his money back from the police.
He stated that the operatives gave him two different bank accounts where he transferred N2 million and N1 million separately.
According to him, the N2 million was transferred to the MoniePoint Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Yusuf Mustafa. While the N1 million was transferred to another MoniePoint Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Jerry Ventures.
He, therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (IGP), for intervention. He plead with the IGP to compel the operatives to return the money.
“All I need is my money to be returned to me. And for the IGP to fish out the policemen giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details, they can be fished out.
“I want Justice and I want my money returned because it is for my brother’s project. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won’t become their victims,” Isaac stated.
“I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country.”
He, however, informed that his lawyer has written to the police in Bayelsa State to notify them of the incident.
PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, reported that the police spokesperson in Bayelsa State Command, Musa Mohammed, said he was unaware of the incident.
“Mohammed, a superintendent of police, said there was no squad known as “IGP Special Squad” in Bayelsa State,” PREMIUM TIMES reported.
However, Mohammed acknowledged that the victim phoned him on Friday evening. And informed him that his lawyer would submit an official complaint on 2 September.
“But for now, no formal complaint on the issue is on my table or before the State Commissioner of Police,” Mohammed said.
The spokesman stated that those who allegedly extorted the victim might not have been personnel of the Police Command in Bayelsa.
“They might be from elsewhere,” he said.
However, PREMIUM TIMES have reported that cases of police extortion in Nigeria have continued despite punishment by police authorities, such as dismissal from service.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the latest extortion allegations is coming two months after police operatives in Anambra State allegedly extorted N810,000 from a resident of the State.
“The incident happened in late June, 2024.
“Following pressure from various quarters, the operatives returned the money to the victim some hours later.
“Earlier in June, an operative was dismissed in Abia State for allegedly shooting dead an entrepreneur over his refusal to bribe him.
“In March, another operative was dismissed while two others were suspended for allegedly extorting $3,000 from two Nigerians in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“A Divisional Crimes Officer of Abraka Division in Delta State was also removed from office for allegedly extorting over N2 million,” Premium Times reported.
It also reported the detention of some operatives at the Police Headquarters in Abuja for allegedly extorting N30.3 million.
source: Premium Times
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